Catalonia has launched one of the largest wildlife control operations in recent years. Authorities have decided to completely eradicate the wild boar population in Collserola to stop the spread of African swine fever. This action directly affects the region’s economy, pork exports, and public safety, as tens of thousands of animals could pose a dangerous infection risk.
According to El Pais, forestry services have been using various methods to capture and eliminate wild boars for several weeks. They employ special nets, traps, and even snipers working at night. The main objective is to quickly remove all animals within a 20-kilometer radius of the first detected case. Specialists believe this is the only way to break the transmission chain and restore the region’s ability to export pork products.
Methods and scale
Dozens of personnel are involved in the operation, including the GECA group, which specializes in capturing wild animals. They wear protective suits to minimize infection risks and place bait at specially chosen locations. Surveillance cameras monitor boar activity, alerting teams to arrive swiftly for the culling. All carcasses are sent for analysis to check if the animals were infected with the virus.
Experts estimate that between 8,000 and 12,000 wild boars live in Collserola and surrounding areas. About 600 animals remain within the park itself and are slated for culling in the coming months. Outside the jurisdiction of the forestry services, hunters are organizing drives to prevent the migration of animals and the spread of infection beyond the affected area.
Technology and obstacles
Drones equipped with infrared cameras are used to locate the animals, allowing wild boars to be detected even at night. In addition, pig brig traps are being set up, capable of capturing several animals at once. However, the process is complicated by environmental activists, who try to damage equipment and release the animals. According to El Pais, instances of vandalism are caught on cameras, and footage is passed on to the police for investigation.
The operation is further complicated by the fact that it takes several days to successfully capture the animals: they need time to get used to bait and feel safe. Only then can they be caught. Despite these difficulties, forestry officials have noted a decrease in wild boar-related accidents on the roads, indicating a reduction in the population.
Consequences for the region
Access restrictions to Collserola will remain in place until all wild boars have been eradicated. Only after this, and after a further 12 months with no new cases of the disease, will the region be able to resume pork exports. This decision has already affected the economy and farmers, who now have to wait for access to markets to be restored.
Specially trained dogs are also working in the risk zone, searching for carcasses of infected animals. Their task is to prevent other wild boars from eating the remains, which could lead to further spread of the virus. According to El Pais, since the start of the outbreak, more than 2,200 carcasses have been examined, of which 232 tested positive.
In recent years, Europe has faced similar outbreaks of African swine fever. In Poland, Germany, and the Baltic states, authorities also implemented large-scale culling and movement restrictions. These measures helped reduce the spread of the virus, but restoring exports and normal life in affected regions took at least a year. This is the first time Spain is experiencing a situation of this scale, and the experience of other countries shows that only strict measures can stop the epidemic.
